Richard Branson inspires hope at UN summit

Carl Nettleton, of Open Oceans Global here, is just back from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro and recounted one of the lighter moments. Deforestation panel members, an unlikely trio of entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, researcher Jane Goodall and actor Ed Norton, were asked what gave them reason for hope.

Branson responded that the oceans gave him hope. But Ed Norton quipped hopefully: “Every morning I wake up dreaming I am Richard Branson. Then I realize I am not and get on with my day.”

Jane Goodall followed Norton’s lead: “I have hope for a woman in Africa with five children whose husband has died, yet she wakes up smiling. And she isn’t Richard Branson, and probably isn’t dreaming about him because she doesn’t know who he is.”

Born on the 3rd of July: Today is a special day at the S.D. home of Rick and Tory Gulley because July 3 is Tory’s birthday. Beyond that, however, July 3 was the birth date of their home’s previous two owners. One down side? Should the Gulleys decide to sell, they may have a tough time finding a date-appropriate buyer.

Around town: Fresh off his performance in the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook was spotted dining at the Gaslamp’s new Japanese fusion Katsuya San Diego restaurant Sunday before sampling the nightclub scene…

“The Young and the Restless” star Christian LeBlanc and “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Heather Tom will be joining co-authors of a book on William J. Bell, the creator of their soap operas, at Warwicks in La Jolla at 4 p.m. Saturday. “The Young and the Restless Life of William J. Bell” was written by Bell’s widow, and co-creator, Lee Phillip Bell, with Michael Maloney.

Word play: The headline could have said it differently: “San Diegans Relieved to Open New Beach Restrooms.” But, after all, it was the ribbon cutting for a renovated $1.18 million comfort station in Ocean Beach at Brighton and Spray streets. The microphone used at the event by City Councilman Kevin Faulconer was even powered by energy from solar panels on its roof.